1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: Mile two to just kind of exact slips exact Falcons fans, 2 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,920 Speaker 1: what's up? And welcome back to Falcons final whistle. I 3 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: am joined by Tory mclaney, who just got off a 4 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: flight of a few hours ago. It was a late night, 5 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: but a thrilling night. The Falcons beat the Tampa Bay 6 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:31,720 Speaker 1: Buccaneers twenty nine to twenty eight in walk off fashion. 7 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:36,880 Speaker 1: We've got so much to unpack in today's episode, But Tori, 8 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: I mean, I feel if I was going to make 9 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: a bet on anything at this point in my life, 10 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: it is that we will see the Falcons and the 11 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:47,560 Speaker 1: Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football again in the near future, 12 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 1: if not for the rest of our lives. 13 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 2: I know. I think what I wrote for the game breakdown, 14 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 2: my little blurb was, I didn't think that there was 15 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 2: gonna be a game that was gonna even remotely be 16 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: in the same realm as what last Thursday Night Football was. 17 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 2: Last year, when you had Kirk Cousins in front of 18 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 2: Matt Ryan break his franchise record for passing yards in 19 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:14,479 Speaker 2: a single game. You had the Darrell Hodge walk off touchdown, 20 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:15,639 Speaker 2: like there were. 21 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: Jessee Bates, like late fourth quarters turnout yeah, there was 22 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: so much. 23 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,480 Speaker 2: So many like just iconic moments for that Thursday Night 24 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 2: game to be followed up this year with this Thursday 25 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 2: Night game. I don't think you could have like in 26 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 2: the fashion of which this game ultimately prevailed for the 27 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 2: Falcons is just like you couldn't have written this. It's like, 28 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 2: you know, they're always everybody's always joking about like NFL 29 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 2: script writers. None of this, it was in the script, 30 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 2: none of it. 31 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 1: No, I mean yeah, Like, so both teams they combined 32 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: for over eight hundred yards of offense. The Falcons had 33 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,279 Speaker 1: nearly five hundred yards. They had over all hundred yards 34 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: and penalties. We'll get to that a little bit later. 35 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: But it was really a back and forth game throughout. 36 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: And then you know, it looked like in the fourth 37 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: quarter there things we're gonna get dicey for the Falcons, 38 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:10,119 Speaker 1: and it didn't. They showed so much resilience to claw back, 39 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 1: made some late plays. So again, we've got so much 40 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: to get into, but let's start the clock on our 41 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: first quarter and let's start talking about Kyle Pitts. Yeah, 42 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: because this this was the Pits I was promised right 43 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: like this was a good one. This was thank you. 44 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: I was thinking all night about that. 45 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 2: Yeah. 46 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:32,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, eleven catches, one hundred and sixty six yards, three touchdowns, 47 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: easily the best game of his career. I mean you 48 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: were there in the building, like it it felt like 49 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 1: early on, all right, Pitts is going to be involved 50 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 1: once again. What was it like just being in the 51 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: stadium for that. 52 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 2: I think that you know, there's the joke about like 53 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 2: Kyle Pitts when he's in Florida, Like there's something I 54 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 2: think it was even Bajon said in the locker room too, 55 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 2: Who's like get that man in Florida air all the time, 56 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 2: Like he just turns into this, for lack of a 57 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 2: better word, unicorn. That heat, to your point, was like 58 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 2: promised to be. I thought that he specifically showed a 59 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 2: lot of heart in a lot of moments. You know, 60 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 2: some of these catches that he had were you know, 61 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: there are a couple of contested catches, there are a 62 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 2: couple of like just really good scheme and we're out 63 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 2: literally the back to back a little wheel route almost that. 64 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: Yeah. 65 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was very pleased by not only what we 66 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,360 Speaker 2: saw from like Kyle Pits in kind of this like 67 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 2: penultimate type of performance. But this isn't like a new 68 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: revelation like Kyle Pits, I think had been building up 69 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 2: to this moment over the last couple of weeks without 70 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: Drake London out there. And I thought you made a 71 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 2: really good point on Twitter during the game about like 72 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: how much that even potentially shifted things for this offense 73 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: in terms of where Kyle Pits is in, like route progressions, 74 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 2: like how often Kirk is getting to him on his 75 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: first or second read instead of maybe like second or 76 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 2: third read, and how that impacts Kyle Pitts's performance, how 77 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 2: much he's being targeted. And I mean I he had 78 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: the hot hand, so like give the ball to the 79 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 2: to the hot hand. He caught eleven of twelve like 80 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: which I think that in and of itself is impressive 81 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 2: when we've been talking for a very long time, months 82 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 2: and months, if not the whole year, about like when 83 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 2: you need a guy to make a catch like cop 84 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: Pits made the catch absolutely yea. 85 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 1: And I want to kind of stick on that role 86 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: part a little bit because that's always been I think 87 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:36,280 Speaker 1: both the promise of Kyle Pits but also kind of 88 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: the question of like how exactly do you use him 89 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,480 Speaker 1: in the best possible way. Yeah, And I mean there 90 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: were times with during the Arthur Smith era where it 91 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: was like, all right, you're running kind of a dagger 92 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: concept with Drake London and Kyle is your clearout guy, 93 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: and there were times where it was like, all right, 94 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: is it getting cleared out fast enough? There's a couple 95 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 1: receivers in the areas? Like is that his best role? 96 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: Obviously we've seen him as like inline blocking, and I 97 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: think this year it's gotten better where you look at 98 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: the outside zone game that Atlanta has been able to run. 99 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: But you know, he's still not a George Kittle, Like, 100 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: he's still not necessarily a dominant rum blocker. So this 101 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: seems like the best use for him and being able 102 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: to be kind of this movable chess piece who is 103 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: early in the route progression. 104 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 2: Yep. 105 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: That seems to be the magic sauce for him so far. 106 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,680 Speaker 1: And it's crazy like he's just a fourth tight end 107 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: in NFL history with ten plus catches, one hundred and 108 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 1: fifty plus receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns in a game, 109 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: joining Shannon Sharp, Kellen Winslow. Todd Christensen can't say I 110 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: am too familiar with Todd Christensen. But I do know 111 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 1: Shannon Sharp and Kellen Winsow, right, Yeah, they're pretty dang good, right. 112 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like good company to keep. And I 113 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,799 Speaker 2: think that you know, Kyle Pits, this is a everyone knows. 114 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: He knows, Falcons know, the broader NFL landscape knows this 115 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:54,960 Speaker 2: is a big year for Kyle Pits. This is a 116 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 2: year that he needed a performance like this, and he 117 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 2: needed kind of multiple, kind of stacking performances in the 118 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 2: way that he has in the last three weeks for 119 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 2: his next contract because he is playing on his fifth 120 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 2: year option. Don't know if that's going to be in Atlanta, 121 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: but he is kind of this entity of what does 122 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 2: an organization see ass and what do they value him as? 123 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: And I think that it's kind of ebbed and flowed 124 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,800 Speaker 2: his value. I mean, the coming out rookie year value, 125 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 2: exceptionally high, injury value lowers, coming off of the injury 126 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 2: value lowers, like not really performing and producing in the 127 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 2: way that you want in that fourth year lowers. And 128 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 2: I think that this was such a big year for him, 129 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: It was such a big year for what he could 130 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,599 Speaker 2: show the broader landscape. And so the fact that he 131 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 2: had this performance I think, I don't know if it 132 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:52,839 Speaker 2: puts him back on the map, but I definitely think 133 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 2: that this type of performance is a marker of what 134 00:06:56,440 --> 00:07:00,200 Speaker 2: he is, what you could ultimately have in him to 135 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 2: your point to bring it full circle, like the promise 136 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 2: of him. 137 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, he's the only tight end Falcons history 138 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: to have more than one hundred and fifty receiving yards 139 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: in a game. He's now done it twice. Talk about 140 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: his rookie year. He did it against Miami as a rookie, 141 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:18,680 Speaker 1: which again Florida, Florida, Florida, Man Florida. But kind of 142 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: getting to a lot of his production came offset, it 143 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: wasn't in line. And again I kind of think that 144 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: that is how you've got to figure all of this out. 145 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: And whichever team, whether that's Atlanta or you know, somewhere else, 146 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 1: if if that's how everything rolls like, that's going to 147 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:38,160 Speaker 1: be kind of the question, right is this is he 148 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: a tight end? Is he just a really movable wide receiver. 149 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: But we did finally see the realization of like what 150 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: everybody hoped he would be, and it is exciting right 151 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: to see even if you know you would have loved 152 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: for this happen with playoffs still a reality. 153 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 2: I think that there are a lot of things that 154 00:07:56,040 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 2: you wish were happening, like in the same vein as playoff. 155 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: But something and that is our whistle has moved to 156 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 1: the second quarter. Something else that really I think stand 157 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: out that is real and should provide a lot of 158 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 1: hope for the future was James Piers Junior. Yes, I 159 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 1: mean the dude was six games now in a row 160 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: with sack like. He had two last night. He's got 161 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 1: eight on the season. James Pierce like has been I 162 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: think everything anybody could have hoped for, And should we 163 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: just officially put the first round pick? Conversation and nonsense 164 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: to bed. 165 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: I mean I think that I was already therefore even 166 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 2: before this performance. I think we talked about it on 167 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 2: a Friday five episode not too long ago, and I 168 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 2: kind of was like, I don't want to hear it anymore. 169 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 2: And you know, I understand the argument, I understand the frustration, 170 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 2: but I have to go often, I always have to 171 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 2: go back to the mindset of where you were when 172 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 2: you made the decision. Like we have the luxury of 173 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 2: hindsight at this point in time. The Falcons are not 174 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:04,199 Speaker 2: in playoff contention. They are like, but in April, when 175 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 2: you're going through draft evaluations and you're trying Fulbrick is 176 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 2: trying to build a defense, and he's trying to fix 177 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 2: past rush, and they are making it evident that like, hey, 178 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 2: we feel really good about this offense that we have. 179 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 2: We feel like we fix the quarterback position. The only 180 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 2: thing that we have to be like to push us 181 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 2: to the next level, we need a pass rush, and 182 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 2: they invested to do that. Now looking ahead, it's like, okay, yeah, 183 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 2: the Rams are probably going to have a top ten 184 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 2: pick according to how kind of the next three weeks goes. 185 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 2: But that was kind of the risk you took, Like 186 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 2: that was the and again you got a guy who 187 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 2: now is the franchise leader in rookie east sacks in 188 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 2: a season since nineteen eighty two. Fun fact, the Falcons actually, 189 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 2: even though individual sacks were not recognized until nineteen eighty two, 190 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 2: officially the Falcons as an organization actually do they do 191 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:04,920 Speaker 2: recognize Claude Humphreys as the NFL or as their franchise 192 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,840 Speaker 2: leader in sacks by rookie He had eleven and a half. 193 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,119 Speaker 1: Yep, I'm not putting. 194 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 2: It outside the realm of possibility that James Pearce in 195 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 2: the next three weeks like gets up in there into 196 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,400 Speaker 2: a double digit type of situation. 197 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean they look again, he's done this, He's 198 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: got at least a sack in six straight games. He's 199 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 1: got three more games to only get two. Yeah, odds 200 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,360 Speaker 1: are right now. Yeah, Like I like him to probably 201 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: finish with double digits there, if not push for for 202 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 1: Claude Humphrey. And you mentioned the Rams, like he's ahead 203 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: of Jared Verse. I know, like he is ahead of 204 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 1: a lot of the Kobe Turner, a lot of those 205 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 1: guys and what they were doing Byron Young and like 206 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: I wonder if like we always look at the first 207 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: round pick trade as kind of, oh man, now the 208 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: Rams have this this great kind of piece this offseason. Yeah, 209 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 1: but the Falcons identified a player that a lot of 210 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: other teams were passing over. Yeah, and credit to them. 211 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 1: They there were like red flags around James Pierce Junior 212 00:11:03,240 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 1: character wise coming out of college. The Falcons did a 213 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 1: lot of research and really dug into any of those 214 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 1: concerns and felt comfortable about getting the player and the 215 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 1: person and the player has been sensational. There have really 216 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:20,760 Speaker 1: been no character issues so far, and I feel like 217 00:11:20,800 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: this is a home run and we should be giving 218 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:26,959 Speaker 1: a little bit more credit to them for identifying somebody 219 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: that the rest of the league seemed to miss on. Yeah, 220 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: and now it seems like they've got an impact player 221 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: for at least the next four year. Ars. 222 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 2: I mean, I genuinely believe around draft season and through 223 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 2: the draft process that smoke screens are put out. And 224 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 2: I absolutely think that James Fears Junior. I think that 225 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 2: there were a lot of teams that felt very high 226 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 2: on him, and I think the character she says, like 227 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 2: I talked to James frequently. I have a lot of 228 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 2: respect for James Peers Junior, and I really have enjoyed, 229 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 2: genuinely enjoyed watching his maturation as a player and as 230 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 2: a person too, and like becoming kind of in his 231 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 2: own way, like his own type of person. And I 232 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 2: think his connection with Jayalen Walker has been really great. 233 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:14,480 Speaker 2: I think his connection with Raheem Morris and Jeff Olbrich, 234 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:17,839 Speaker 2: Like I remember, like Jeff Ulbrick said during one of 235 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 2: the interviews that I had with him around draft season, 236 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 2: and he's like, I feel like we have such a 237 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:27,439 Speaker 2: good defensive corps in place, whether it be coaches or players, 238 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 2: that he's gonna thrive here. He's gonna be fine, and 239 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 2: we're gonna let him go out and be the guy 240 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 2: that he wants to be. And that's exactly what's happening here. 241 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 2: And I wouldn't I don't know if I would trade 242 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:45,720 Speaker 2: James Pearce Junior for for anything right now in the 243 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 2: speculation of what could have. 244 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:51,360 Speaker 1: Been, Is he in your mind the front runner for 245 00:12:51,400 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: defensive for Kie of the Year one? 246 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 2: I mean, I think I haven't looked at any of 247 00:12:55,440 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 2: the updated stats because I'm going off for four hours 248 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 2: of sleep, But I don't think that there is a 249 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 2: defensive rookie that is being more has been more impactful 250 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 2: in the last seven weeks of the season. Like you 251 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,720 Speaker 2: talk about like trajectory. Yeah, there's no one who I 252 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:14,839 Speaker 2: think defensively is on the trajectory that James Truer is. 253 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: Like straight up, straight up, if people were playing in 254 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 1: New York or Dallas or LA anywhere, whatever, Yeah, he 255 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: would be leading. Yes, PTI Sports Center around the horn, 256 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,439 Speaker 1: what have you like? It's crazy. He's eight sacks on 257 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:28,959 Speaker 1: the season, tied with Jeffrey Simmons half a sack behind 258 00:13:28,960 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: Aiden Hutchinson, one sack behind Max Crosby. 259 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 2: Like he's done something that only Micah Parsons has done 260 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 2: in the last five years. You like, I don't. I 261 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 2: don't again, I don't want to hear the like the 262 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 2: first round thing, Like, I'm happy with what the Falcons 263 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 2: have in James Trace Junior. 264 00:13:47,200 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: Take the junior off his name. He's grown all the 265 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:49,040 Speaker 1: way up. 266 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 2: But then we can't call him JPJ JPJ. 267 00:13:52,520 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: Is great, all right, So that is the whistle. Let's 268 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: get to our halftime stat presented by Microsoft co pilot 269 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: the Falcons win probability early in the fourth quarter, with 270 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: thirteen twenty nine left in the game, it was just 271 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:07,559 Speaker 1: four point eight percent, right, Yeah, Han Solo unlike to 272 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: hear the odds. Hey, neither's Tory mclaney. 273 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:10,680 Speaker 2: Never tell me the odds. 274 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: So what did they do? They threw those odds right 275 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: out the window, and they came all the way back, 276 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: trailing twenty eight to fourteen. Their twenty nine to twenty 277 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: eight comeback was felt every bit as maybe unlikely and 278 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: as thrilling as that stat. 279 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:25,560 Speaker 2: Well, I was talking to Jon Robinson in the locker 280 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 2: room and I kind of asked him the question, like, 281 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 2: at at that point in time, you know, going into 282 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 2: the fourth quarter after a third quarter debacle against the Seahawks, 283 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 2: this team kind of like rolled over a little bit, 284 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 2: and whether they meant to or not, like that's what 285 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 2: it looks like. And I kind of said, what was 286 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 2: the difference for y'all hitting the gas pedal versus hitting 287 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:53,120 Speaker 2: the brake within you know, five days time? And he 288 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 2: was very like adamant that, like in that moment on 289 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 2: the sideline they had like Chris lntrim was literally walking 290 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 2: up and down the sidelines yelling at the top of 291 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 2: his lungs that we're gonna go win this game. And 292 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 2: Jean was kind of like, it's that leadership that makes 293 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 2: you forget about everything else going on and you want 294 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 2: to go fight for your guys. And we'll get more 295 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 2: into that, but like that story I thought was like 296 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:24,400 Speaker 2: an anecdote, was like so indicative of like four point 297 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 2: eight percent, Like you have Chris Lntrim on the sideline 298 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 2: like I don't care, I don't care, I want to 299 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:29,720 Speaker 2: win this freaking game. 300 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: Yeah. No, it's kind of like a battlefield general or whatever, 301 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,280 Speaker 1: when when people are retreating. You need like George Washington 302 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: just single handedly stopping a retreat during the American Revolution. 303 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: You didn't know you were getting some history facts on 304 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: Today's Today's podcast. But yeah, like you need that galvanized leadership, 305 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: and it is much more impactful when it's coming from 306 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: somebody like Chris Lenstrom. I know Jean has, you know, 307 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: aspirations to kind of be that leader as well. So 308 00:15:57,040 --> 00:15:59,800 Speaker 1: like that, it was great to see, especially juxtaposed with 309 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: that Seattle game. So a great point by you. Let's 310 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 1: move on to our third quarter. And when we first 311 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: sat down for this show back in week one, we 312 00:16:09,000 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: were talking about some a good game by the Falcons 313 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: that ultimately missed opportunities kind of cost them late against 314 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay. Yeah, there were still some miscues in this game. 315 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 2: I would argue there were more in this game. 316 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:27,080 Speaker 1: Probably, you know, with nineteen penalties committed. Yeah, it's gonna 317 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: it's gonna feel that way. That's most by any team 318 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: in the league this season, most by the Falcons in 319 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 1: their franchise history. Yeah, I mean, what what did it 320 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: feel like being in that building? Because everything on Twitter 321 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 1: just like home, It felt like it was so stop 322 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: start stop start penalties, another flag. 323 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, it felt exactly like that in the moment too, 324 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 2: Like it kind of got to the point where, like 325 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 2: so many it felt like every play there was something 326 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 2: and it just like never felt like, oh, the Falcons 327 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 2: would break a run with Jon Robinson, it's called back, 328 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 2: A sack gets called back. There were so many moments 329 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 2: of just like pure like frustration because of the penalties, 330 00:17:06,560 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 2: and you really did, up until that fourth quarter when 331 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:13,680 Speaker 2: they really started to like mount that comeback, you felt 332 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 2: like those penalties were was gonna be the difference in 333 00:17:16,560 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 2: in the game, And honestly, statistics show it should have been, 334 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,360 Speaker 2: like you know, it should those penalties and being and 335 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 2: losing one hundred and twenty five yards on penalties, giving 336 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 2: up seven first downs on penalties like that is staggering 337 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 2: numbers that don't happen every day. And I think that 338 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 2: like there is this love that there was like a 339 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 2: level of frustration that I think even like probably the 340 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:45,479 Speaker 2: Bucks felt as well, because like you know, they were 341 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 2: getting penalized as well. There were there were there were 342 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,520 Speaker 2: so many things about that those moments and it's not 343 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 2: even just like the penalties too, like there were other 344 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 2: moments that David Sills drop of a wide open touchdown 345 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 2: like the Darnel Mooney fumble that could have made a 346 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,200 Speaker 2: really big difference in that game. Like, there were moments 347 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 2: where you felt like, Okay, this is this is the Dagger, 348 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:15,680 Speaker 2: but for some reason or another, by plays made and 349 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 2: moments kind of taken in a different direction, the Falcons 350 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 2: did what they needed to do to kind of make 351 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 2: those moments not minuscule but not matter towards the win. 352 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, they weren't magnified because it did. It felt like 353 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: a game where you were like holding sand in your 354 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,479 Speaker 1: hand and it was just kind of like slowly slipping 355 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 1: through your fingers no matter how much you were trying 356 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 1: to like keep grasp of it. And eventually they did 357 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: enough to hold on. Yeah, and yeah, like when you 358 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:46,520 Speaker 1: give up one hundred march like penalty yards more than 359 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 1: the other team, that's crazy to ultimately overcome that. 360 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 2: But at one point they had more penalties than they 361 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 2: had first downs as an offense, Like that is. 362 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: Did they have in the first half fourteen? 363 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 2: I think so, Yeah, And at one point they had 364 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 2: I think I even tweeted this, I think this is 365 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 2: like halfway through the second quarter, Bajon they had just 366 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:11,439 Speaker 2: as many penalties as Bejon Robinson had rushing yards, and 367 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 2: it was like almost all of it had been negated 368 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:19,360 Speaker 2: by penalties. Bajeon had sixty rushing yards and they had 369 00:19:19,400 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 2: fifty five penalty yards, Like, yeah, you're only plus five 370 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 2: at that point. 371 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,959 Speaker 1: Some some of them, you know, I agreed with some 372 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: of them. I didn't agree with. Right, it's it's not 373 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:34,760 Speaker 1: here to officiate the officials. But but yeah, we'll leave 374 00:19:34,800 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: that right there, looking at you. Let's talk a little 375 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: bit about the redemptive moment though for some of these players. Right, 376 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: we can start with David Sils because you mentioned that 377 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:46,119 Speaker 1: that dropped to me, it just looked like one of 378 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: those where you know, if you have like an overhead 379 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:50,960 Speaker 1: in tennis and you get like a second to think 380 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:53,280 Speaker 1: about it, and your brain enters the equation and you're 381 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 1: kind of like, oh my god, Like that's what struck 382 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:57,680 Speaker 1: me in that moment was kind of like, my guy 383 00:19:57,720 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: fell down, here's the ball and he's trying to really 384 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: it in. Yeah, and just but to see him come 385 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,080 Speaker 1: back and make that huge, huge fourth down grab on 386 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,639 Speaker 1: the right sideline. Yeah, what were what were you kind 387 00:20:09,640 --> 00:20:10,359 Speaker 1: of thinking of that moment? 388 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 2: I mean, that was what Raheem Morris has been talking 389 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 2: about over the last few weeks, is like, especially in 390 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 2: regards to the receivers, you need someone to go out 391 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,199 Speaker 2: and make a catch, Like there were so many times 392 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 2: over the lot, like even just going back to the 393 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:25,720 Speaker 2: Jets game a recent example, like you had three drops 394 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 2: inside the two minute to force three and out, like 395 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:33,040 Speaker 2: and balls were hitting receivers in their hands in the chest. 396 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:36,679 Speaker 2: And I think that like in regards to David Seals, 397 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 2: like he needed that moment as well, like and let's 398 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 2: be realized third and twenty eight before that, like. 399 00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 1: Yeah for them to even yeah eat Mile Pitts getting 400 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,000 Speaker 1: nothing right down catch and leaving his way up the field. 401 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:52,679 Speaker 2: And then David Steels like going up to get that 402 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 2: ball like I mean it wasn't a perfectly thrown ball, like, 403 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 2: but he went up and he made the play. And 404 00:20:56,600 --> 00:20:58,399 Speaker 2: that's something that Raheem Morris is like you just he 405 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 2: literally said last Tuesday or literally Tuesday, he was like, 406 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 2: we need to have a dog out there who goes 407 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:09,160 Speaker 2: out and makes that dog play. And there were moments like. 408 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:12,399 Speaker 1: That and he he made it again. The response to 409 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: do it you mentioned Ryan Neusel jumping in to somehow 410 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,240 Speaker 1: like I didn't even really see it happen, because when 411 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: the ball got jarred out of Darnell's hand, I kind 412 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,479 Speaker 1: of like looked up at the ceiling and was just like, 413 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: oh gosh. And then I look down and it's like 414 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,639 Speaker 1: there's suddenly a pile and a fight. He jumps in 415 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: and makes a huge play. I think the Alford getting 416 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: that interceptions it was a really good adjustment, I think 417 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,399 Speaker 1: defensively because Kobe Bryant comes in the game after Mike 418 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:41,959 Speaker 1: Cues is injured, and it's immediately apparent that they were 419 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 1: just picking on him. 420 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 2: If Kobe was in coverage with Mike Evans, it was 421 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 2: going to Mike Evans every time. 422 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 1: Every single time, and so on are the Falcons do, 423 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 1: all right, We're gonna kind of drop a guy underneath, 424 00:21:51,600 --> 00:21:54,080 Speaker 1: We're gonna start bracketing a little bit, and you come 425 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: up with a huge play, so you swing the game. There, 426 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:01,240 Speaker 1: Kirk getting involved, not making those business decisions. He's jumping 427 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: in and trying to fight for that ball. And then 428 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: the way that first game ended with a missed field 429 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,320 Speaker 1: goal and a missed opportunity to send it over time 430 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 1: to end it with a game winning field goal felt 431 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:15,400 Speaker 1: just like the perfect book end. Yeah for this, I agree, awesome. 432 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 1: Well let's move along to the fourth quarter. And Tori, 433 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:22,920 Speaker 1: you wrote a column after this game on just No Sleep, 434 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 1: But I thought it was eloquent. I thought it was 435 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 1: really well done, So everybody go please check that out. 436 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,879 Speaker 1: But it was all about kind of the team fighting 437 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 1: for each other, right with nothing left, no playoffs left 438 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: to fight for. What do you have to fight for? Right, 439 00:22:34,200 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: And it's kind of this team. 440 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:39,080 Speaker 2: And I think that was the theme of this game. 441 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 2: It was the theme of conversations in the locker room, 442 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 2: it was the theme of Rahem Morris's press conference, his 443 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:47,480 Speaker 2: idea of fighting when you have nothing to fight for. 444 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 2: Because the fact of the matter remains, We've said it. 445 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:55,879 Speaker 2: Falcons don't have one, they don't have any playoff hopes. 446 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,719 Speaker 2: Two again, you don't have a first round draft pick, 447 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 2: so it's not like you're really playing to like move up. 448 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 1: And yeah, there's no winning and losing right right. 449 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's just getting to it's just finishing. It's getting 450 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 2: to the end of the twenty twenty five season. And 451 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,960 Speaker 2: I think that like the the difference I saw in 452 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 2: this team from I've alluded to it before, but the 453 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:19,680 Speaker 2: difference I saw from the Seattle game and that second 454 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:23,360 Speaker 2: half to this game and this second half was night 455 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 2: and day. And I think that this I genuinely believe 456 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 2: that this team, when they say that they're together and 457 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 2: they're in it, they are because I think that there 458 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 2: is evidence to prove that. I think this game is 459 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:44,199 Speaker 2: evidence to that that they genuinely feel that way and 460 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 2: that they're gonna be playing to fight for each other. 461 00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 2: And I think that was I mean, almost every person 462 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 2: said that mantra of fighting for each other, playing for 463 00:23:56,600 --> 00:24:00,199 Speaker 2: each other, playing with each other, like I think that 464 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,240 Speaker 2: that speaks kind of to some of the leaders in 465 00:24:03,280 --> 00:24:06,240 Speaker 2: that locker room that I think Raheem Morris has alluded 466 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 2: to in the past, like Ah, like Cayden Ellis on 467 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:13,680 Speaker 2: Monday talked for five minutes straight about what it means 468 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:15,760 Speaker 2: to fight when you don't have anything to fight for, 469 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 2: and it's He's like, ultimately, you're fighting for the guy 470 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:22,760 Speaker 2: next to you. And it goes back even to I 471 00:24:22,800 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 2: think what we wrote about early in the season about 472 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:31,280 Speaker 2: like talking to Jeff Ulbrick about his mantra and what 473 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 2: he wants the identity of this defense to be and 474 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 2: like heart mind fests and like that heart piece of 475 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:39,199 Speaker 2: it is all the Falcons have to play for right now? 476 00:24:39,280 --> 00:24:39,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, what's your why? 477 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,680 Speaker 2: Yeah? What is your why? Why are you standing next 478 00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:47,040 Speaker 2: to the guy and playing for him? Like that's it? 479 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 2: And I think that there is. You know, there's no 480 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 2: moral victories in this league, like and there, you know, 481 00:24:53,320 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 2: the Falcons are out of playoff contention. Like I'm not, 482 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 2: I'm not kind of like erasing all of the things 483 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 2: that got them here, but it was in the scope 484 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:07,040 Speaker 2: of this moment, this game, what it means for kind 485 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 2: of moving forward, the Falcons needed this absolutely. 486 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 1: I'm glad you brought up Kayden because I feel like 487 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: his leadership has been revelatory this year. Like I wish 488 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: more fans could kind of see, we know how good 489 00:25:19,080 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 1: of a player he is, right, but like behind the scenes, 490 00:25:21,680 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 1: his character just like so shines through. But I keep 491 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,879 Speaker 1: seeing a ton and it's understandable. But like every mistake 492 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,679 Speaker 1: that this team makes, it feels like people figure out 493 00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: a way to point the finger at the coaching staff 494 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 1: as like the reason for these mistakes. To me, you 495 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,520 Speaker 1: look at a result like that last night and the 496 00:25:40,520 --> 00:25:43,160 Speaker 1: way that this team bounces back after a halftime, and 497 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:46,280 Speaker 1: credit should be given to leadership for that, Like coaches 498 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,400 Speaker 1: have a hand in ultimately the mentality of this locker 499 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 1: room and the buy in from some of the guys, 500 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:54,840 Speaker 1: and I think that was on full display last night, right, 501 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:56,879 Speaker 1: And there were multiple times like it could be so 502 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 1: frustrating to have some of the big plays that the 503 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 1: scheme stuff I really liked yesterday from Zach Robinson. I 504 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,600 Speaker 1: thought there were really unique ways they keep doing this, 505 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 1: like little trip set trio inside thing where like the 506 00:26:10,560 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: middle guy's running and it's clearing a lane and there's 507 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:18,160 Speaker 1: just confusion right created defensively. So to continue to kind 508 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: of like have big moments, have setbacks, have big moments, 509 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:23,960 Speaker 1: have setbacks, but to keep fighting and get that buy 510 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 1: in and maintain that buy in, I do think should 511 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:28,000 Speaker 1: be a point in the credit. 512 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think too, like even just being 513 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 2: able to run the ball the way they were ye 514 00:26:32,600 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 2: yesterday against a really good Tampa defense against a very 515 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,080 Speaker 2: good and that they could not run the ball at 516 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,879 Speaker 2: all in that first week, and I think that like 517 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:42,359 Speaker 2: there have been moments where they haven't been able to 518 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 2: run the ball like that to me is like purely 519 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 2: this offensive line being like we're tired of of this, 520 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:52,679 Speaker 2: Like we're gonna go out and we're gonna step on 521 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:55,480 Speaker 2: somebody's neck. And that's what I felt in the moment 522 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:59,159 Speaker 2: watching them perform and then hearing about Chris Lnstrm, just 523 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 2: kind of being in this like flow state on the 524 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,600 Speaker 2: sideline of like, guys and this is let's get it together. 525 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,120 Speaker 2: We're winning this game. Like I don't know, I think 526 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 2: there's something There's still something here, you know, Like I 527 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 2: feel I still feel that I know why this team 528 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:19,920 Speaker 2: felt the way it did going into the season. Yeah, 529 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:22,920 Speaker 2: and it's unfortunate that it did not pan out that way, 530 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:25,680 Speaker 2: But it doesn't mean that there aren't like these pieces 531 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 2: in place that if you can capitalize on their like 532 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 2: rookie deals like you have, you have something good. And 533 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 2: you just wish that the wins came with that something good. 534 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and this is always a one score league, but 535 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 1: like you look at some of these games where they're 536 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:44,600 Speaker 1: so close and got over the hump, and to finally 537 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:46,640 Speaker 1: do that, I'm really curious now to see with three 538 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:49,399 Speaker 1: games remaining, you've got at the Cardinals home against the Rams. 539 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,680 Speaker 1: That's gonna be just like a really telling game, I think, 540 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:54,840 Speaker 1: and then you close it out home against the Saints, 541 00:27:54,880 --> 00:27:57,919 Speaker 1: like these three games are gonna be really revealing as 542 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: you head into an offseason, right, that feels important? So awesome? 543 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,640 Speaker 1: Well that is our final whistle, Tori, You got anything 544 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:08,800 Speaker 1: else you want to talk? Like? We've talked a lot 545 00:28:08,840 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: about the game, but somehow it still feels like there's 546 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:12,080 Speaker 1: I know. 547 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:14,879 Speaker 2: I this is the you know, it's been difficult to 548 00:28:15,000 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 2: have to like talk about, you know, finding ways to 549 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:20,399 Speaker 2: talk about a team that continues to lose, and so 550 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 2: it's nice to actually feel like we have threads to 551 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,520 Speaker 2: pull on and performances to talk about in the scope 552 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 2: of like again not having anything to fight for, but 553 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,439 Speaker 2: now we at least can it's easier to do our 554 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 2: jobs a little bit. 555 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 1: You know, what do you think you'll remember most from 556 00:28:36,040 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 1: this game? The comeback, the Kyle Pitts performance, the James 557 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:40,040 Speaker 1: Pierce junior of it all. 558 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 2: I think that I will. I think I'll remember the 559 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 2: like the final four minutes when the Falcons I thought that, 560 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,680 Speaker 2: to be completely honest. I think I'll remember Kirk Cousins 561 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:57,440 Speaker 2: a little bit too, Like I think that he's kind 562 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:00,080 Speaker 2: of getting lost in the sauce of the performances and 563 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:04,960 Speaker 2: and it's understandable, but I think that we can't talk 564 00:29:04,960 --> 00:29:07,920 Speaker 2: about this game without talking about the leadership of Kirk Cousins. 565 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 2: He put some good he put some good tape out there. 566 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 2: And I don't know what the future is for Kirk 567 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 2: Cousins and this organization, if there even is a future, 568 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 2: but for what I have to give a lot of 569 00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:26,080 Speaker 2: kudos in respect to Kirk Cousins in the way he 570 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 2: has handled the last year of his career. 571 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:32,560 Speaker 1: I couldn't have said it better myself, so that's a 572 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:35,320 Speaker 1: great point. It's a shame we didn't talk about Kirk 573 00:29:35,480 --> 00:29:38,120 Speaker 1: more on this show, but maybe we'll do it later. 574 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:41,920 Speaker 1: So kudos to Kirk. Kudos to everybody who is tuned 575 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 1: in a little bit later than usual, but hey, circumstances 576 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 1: were what they were, so Cory, thank you so much 577 00:29:47,720 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 1: for sitting down, Jared, thank you as always for producing 578 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 1: the show. For Tory maclaney, I'm badden. We will see 579 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 1: you all next week.